THE IMMUNOSCINTIGRAPHY WITH MAB B72.3 IN THE PREOPERATIVE DETECTION OF LYMPH-NODE METASTASES OF COLORECTAL-CARCINOMA

From April 1, 1992 to December 31, 1993 we investigated 30 patients wi th suspected primary colorectal carcinoma or questionable tumor relaps e by immunoscintigraphy prospective with the monoclonal antibody MAb B 72.3 in order to detect the tumor and especially regional lymphnode me tastases. All the patients underwent surgical treatment. The diagnosis was based on surgery and biopsy. The diagnostic sensitivity of immuno scintigraphy in detecting the tumor was 76 %, the specificity 94 % (pr edictive value positive [PVP] 95 %) and 43 %, respectively 85 % in det ecting lymphnode metastases (PVP 60 %). The diagnostic sensitivity in detecting rectosigmoid tumors was 79 and 60 % in detecting lymphnode m etastases of rectosigmoid carcinoma (PVP 60 %). The specifity was 90 % . It could be shown, that the detection of metastases in singulary lym phnodes smaller than 1 cm was not possible and often a final decission could not be done. We conclude, that the benefit of this method in de tection of lymphnode metastases compared to basic diagnostic, expenses and costs is doubtfully.